Teaching Your Child What to do in an Emergency

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Knowing what to do in an emergency could be the different between life and death. Arming your child with some basic knowledge about life threatening situations is an important part of the process of growing up. They will no doubt carry the skills with them into their teenage and adult years, and hopefully hand the knowledge onto their own children.

How to use 911

Teaching your child that 911 is the number to call in case of an emergency is the most simple and effective way of dealing with an emergency. Walk you child through the process, and talk to them about the different situations in which they may need to phone the number for help. It is always a good idea to have the information on the fridge at the child’s eye height just in case they forget what to do.

Fire Safety

Many children learn in school what to do in case there is a fire emergency. However it does not hurt to teach them what to do for the same emergency at home. Teach your child to get closer to the floor to avoid flames and smoke, also teach him or her to “stop, drop and roll” if their clothes catch on fire. It is also important to teach your child how to use certain items safely, such as stoves, hot plates, heaters and other electrical items that could spark a fire.

Teaching your child the basics about what to do in the event of an emergency is an important part of the parenting process, and one that could save lives.

 

Giving Birth: Natural or Cesarean?

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Given its standard 40-week calendar, pregnancy affords many joys and also some challenges. Ideally, you want to give birth the natural way. That’s how it’s been done for centuries and that’s how nature intended it. When you must have a cesarean, there are additional risks to face. Still, many women have C-sections and emerge healthy, as do their babies.

Deciding Between Natural and Cesarean

Many efforts are underway by governments and obstetricians to decrease the prevalence of C-sections. C-sections cause problems for the mother. Pain, bleeding, depression, surgery issues and infection are all C-section-related complications. In addition, babies delivered via C-section may experience breathing issues following their birth.

Being Induced and Cesareans

Research shows that being induced into labor can lead to an increased need for C-sections. It’s better to avoid this practice unless absolutely necessary. Some women choose this option as a convenience for their schedules. With a regimented calendar pregnancy can be better managed, but a schedule should not prevent getting the most appropriate care.

Reasons to Have a Cesarean

Legitimate reasons exist for having a cesarean and those include factors such as a baby’s oxygen being cut off due to the misplacement of the umbilical cord. Additionally, if the cervix has been blocked by the placenta, the baby cannot be delivered by way of natural birth.

Ways to Avoid C-Sections

Choose a doctor who supports natural birth options. Also, anxiety can slow the delivery process, increasing the possibility of a C-section. Be sure to choose a birthing facility that makes you feel comfortable and at home to reduce anxiety.

 

 

 

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Emergencies are an unhappy part of life. They can be neither predicted nor stopped. They can, however, be combated. The use of loans allows you to gather the funds you need to pay for the procedures you can’t refuse (even if you wanted to). The result is a successful hospital visit and the lessening of stress — which allows you to focus on your child’s healing and not the worries of how you will afford it. The cost is countered and the comfort is immediate. It merely requires access to a computer. The response is instant and the advantage is ideal. Conquer tragedy with convenience.

Cautions For Your Dog at the Pool

Keeping your family dog safe at the swimming pool can have a lot in common with keeping small children safe. It is important to closely monitor their swimming and their behavior to be sure they are safe in the pool. Older dogs may also tire quickly from swimming and it is important to keep a close eye on them throughout your time outside.

Watch The Heat
Dogs can overheat very easily in the hot sun, the area in and around the pool tends to get even more sunlight than the yard. Be sure to provide plenty of fresh water for your pet while they are outside and take periodical breaks to encourage them to drink. It’s also smart to set a timer for a reasonable amount of time so that you take your dog inside to cool off and rest before he becomes overtired or dehydrated.

Be Careful of Chlorine
A heavily chlorinated pool can irritate your dogs eyes and cause them to become red and ooze. Your best line of defense is to keep your pet away from the water when you have just chlorinated. To fend off regular damage from chlorine, rinse your pets coat immediately after getting out the pool. This will remove excess chlorine and prevent skin irritation or an upset stomach from licking it off later on.

Consider an Alarm
Some dogs will find a way to get through even a strong gate and fence. Pet owners may consider a floating alarm for the pool. This device sits on the water and will go off if it senses movement. An alarm will ring in the house to alert you that someone is in the pool. This can be a smart decision for anyone with children and pets, or anyone who lives in a neighborhood where pets and children could find a way into the pool area when no one is around.

Helping Your Child Handle a New Pet

Helping a small child learn to get along with a new family pet can be a joyful time for your family. It an also be a challenge as you test the waters of this new relationship and help both child and pet to navigate this new friendship.

Provide Information
Teach your child through conversations or picture books about caring for a pet and about the animal. They can learn about what the animal likes to eat and what they like to do. You can also let the child help select the perfect name for your new family member. Talk about where the pet will sleep and what responsibilities the family will have in taking care of the pet. These preparations will help prepare the child for the new family member and create anticipation rather than fear.

Introduce in a Calm Setting
When your pet comes home, find a quiet time for the pet and child to meet. This will help discourage wild behavior on both their parts. Be sure you can be right there to keep an eye on things and help the pet and child to meet and get to know each other under good terms. Have your child offer a treat to the pet to feel connected and to show the pet that this is a nice person.

Teach gentle behaviors
Teach the child to let the new pet smell his or her hand and then gently pet the animal. Be sure that the pet stays calm and if you see your pet getting upset, take a break. Encourage your child when he or she acts nicely and encourage the pet when they are kind to the child. Positive reinforcement on both sides will go a long way in forging a good relationship between your child and your new pet.

Putting Together an Emergency Kit for Your Pool

A few basic emergency items should always be kept at close reach when you and your family are spending time at your backyard swimming pool. Having a well stocked emergency kit in your pool house or shed will help keep everyone safe all summer long.

Rescue Gear
For swimming emergencies, a rescue rope and a life preserver ring should always be close at hand. Teach your children that these are tools and not toys. Floats and pool toys can go in the pool, but these things only go in the pool when someone needs help. It is important for all family members and guests to your pool to understand the rules about these devises. A CPR kit with a face shield and rescue breather is essential to have on hand by your swimming pool, especially if you have children swimming in your pool.

First Aid
A fully stocked first aid kit should include various types of bandages, gauze, cleansing wipes, and compresses. An antihistamine for allergic reactions and an itch fighter for bug bites are also good to have on hand. If any of your children have bee sting allergies or use an inhaler for breathing, always have the appropriate gear with you when spending time around the pool.

Helpful Additions
A few added pieces of your safety kit can help make swimming more pleasant for everyone. Sunscreen is very important and its worth keeping it with you for frequent reapplications, even waterproof sunscreen can come off in the pool and needs to be reapplied frequently to be effective. Goggles are a good thing for anyone who swims underwater, but especially for children with sensitive eyes. Ear plugs are another helpful thing to have on hand for children who may be very susceptible to swimmer’s ear and ear infections caused by water.

Putting Together an Emergency Kit for Your Car

There are some basic necessities that every driver should keep in the car in case of emergencies. These are some of the things to consider keeping in your vehicle broken down into some essential categories.

Food and Water
For food, you will want high-calorie energy bars or protein bars that will be able to withstand the extreme temperatures of your car without spoiling. Avoid salty foods that will make you more thirsty and focus on what will give you energy if you should ever find yourself stranded in your vehicle. Water is extremely important to any emergency kit and even more critical than food for survival. Depending on what you can store in your car, opt for several water bottles or larger jugs of water.

Warmth and Light
Always have some warm blankets in your car for emergencies. These can be folded and easily stored in the trunk or under a seat. You may also want some warm packs in the kit or glove compartment for keeping hands and feet warm and some spare winter gear and rain gear for bad weather.

A flashlight or light sticks can be used as sources of light. These will be important to help signal your presence to others on the road if you are ever stranded along the shoulder. Road flares can be kept in the car for use as signals, but not for other sources of light.

First-Aid and Tools
A first-aid kit should always be kept up to date in the car. This should include gauze, bandages, cleansing pads, and any special things required by your family members. Paper towels, duct tape, scissors, and toilet paper can also be good to have in an emergency.

A tool kit should include some multipurpose tools, as well as an ice scraper and snow shovel for winter weather. Jumper cables are another good thing to have on hand in an emergency and can easily be stored in the car.

Keeping Your Pet Safe in an Emergency

When you put together an emergency plan for your family, it is important to also consider your family pets and where they would go in these situations. Planning for pets requires some additional planning, but will ensure that your entire family stays safe in case of a disaster.

Identification
The most important thing you can do for your pet’s safety is to be sure his identification tags are up to date and that he is always wearing his collar with identification. If your pet is micro-chipped, be sure that all of the information is up to date so you can be found if you are ever separated in an emergency. If you have advance warning, keep your pet with you so that you can find him if you need to evacuate your home or seek shelter in the cellar.

Preparedness in the Home
Be sure to have enough water in your emergency kit for all of your pets and a good supply of their food. Keep these in the cellar or wherever you would go in the case of a tornado or other disaster that keeps you locked down in your home. Keep all of your pets medications and supplies in an easy-to-find place.

Boarding Options
Many shelters do not take pets if you are forced to evacuate your home. Your best option is to find pet-friendly hotels or motels outside your immediate area and keep a list of their locations and numbers if you need to make a last-minute reservation with one of them. You can also keep a list of potential boards or a veterinarian outside your immediate area who might be able to keep your pet if you had to leave. People with relatives in a good location can also consider making plans to stay with them or to leave their pets in their care in an emergency.

Making a Pet Emergency Kit

Putting together a portable emergency kit for your pets can be an easy way to ensure their safety in the case of a disaster. An emergency kit should be compact enough that you can easily take it with you in an evacuation, but large enough to accommodate some basics.

Basic Supplies
Your pet’s carrying case or crate should be in a consistent location so it is always easy to find in a hurry. Have a leash read and an extra one packed in the emergency kit. Pack containers of food for each of your pets–having their regular diet can help to keep them happy during a stressful situation. Be sure you have enough water for your entire family, animals included. If food requires a can opener, be sure to take one along.

Medical Gear
Have all of your pets’ medications and a first aid kit including gauze and bandages. Keep your pets’ medical records and immunization records in a safe place and take them with you in case they need medical attention at any point.

Information
Pack current photographs of your pets in case they should get lost. You will also want to have phone numbers for vets and emergency contacts with you. Have a written up list of your pets’ needs, food, and any special details about care in case you need to leave them in a kennel or with a veterinarian during an evacuation.
d the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to foster or board your pets.

Extras
If your pet is attached to their sleeping space and you have space to pack a pet bed, you may want to take it along for comfort. A favorite toy for each animal can be a big comfort during a tough time in their lives.

Helping a Worried Child Handle Emergency Preparedness

Some children are natural worriers the same way that other children are naturally quiet or naturally athletic. When you are raising a child who tends to worry about bad situations, it can be tough to know how to talk about disasters and emergency preparedness. Still, it is important to have discussions and find ways to calm fears through information.

Have a Plan
You may worry about upsetting a worried child with details about an emergency plan, but many worriers feel better when they know that the adults in their life have thought things through and know how to take care of them in an emergency. Go over the details of your plan and what you would do in each situation. Go over the roles of each family member and what things the child is responsible for during an emergency (eg: getting to safety, finding a parent or trusted adult).

Answer Questions
Encourage your child to ask questions about different types of emergencies or what would happen in a situation. If you don’t know the answer, you can look for it together and learn more about what you would do. It is important for you both to answer questions and know how to act in a disaster. When a child has their questions answered, they often begin to relax and feel ready for any situation they may face in the future.

Discuss the Odds
It is important to remind all children, especially worried children, that we make emergency plans and hope that we never have to use them. In fact, most people who make plans will never find themselves in a situation where they need to use it. Plans are made to keep us safe just in case. You can use funny examples to stress the odds of things happening and help your child to feel better about the idea of the plan.